Chapter 398
Chapter 398
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 398
>Chapter Title: The Human River Gauntlet
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In a workshop in Hongryeon, the capital of Khan.
Something secretive was taking place there.
“How’s the preparation for the Injung-ro going? Coming along well?”
“Ah, we’re in the final stages. Just need to etch the inscription, and it’s done.”
Before the men with their vicious scowls lay a massive iron contraption.
“Kukuku… My lifelong masterpiece is just about to be born.”
A bizarre laugh.
The Injung-ro was the trial of dragon transformation, yet these men, who weren’t even dragon candidates, were preparing an Injung-ro. Why?
“Blinding eyes and deafening ears with sorcery… Are they in their right minds?”
“They’re eccentric, sure, but when have the Dragon Palace bastards ever been sane?”
“True… That’s why they’re them.”
The man stroked the object as he spoke.
“Transporting this thing? No ordinary cart will do.”
“Already secured one. Specially made.”
“Good to hear.”
The two men’s eyes met.
Dangerous glints in their gazes.
“Kukuku… Let’s make this grand.”
“…Injung-ro day will be unforgettable.”
“Yeah, for us and for her.”
“…We choose the dragon.”
* * *
It was a few days before the Injung-ro.
Seolhong sought out her handmaid Cheonju.
Her longest-serving handmaid. More like a wet nurse, really.
No, she was a mother figure in place of the mother she’d never even seen.
These days, she suffered from age-related ailments.
She had long since retired from her duties.
“What’s an old woman like me got to worry you for, calling at this early hour?”
“They say time flies for the elderly. The kids are nagging me to visit…”
Hwa-a, Hwi-a, Cheong-a.
The children sent by Gwakseong had taken over Cheonju’s role.
With the three of them working in perfect sync, she was always attended impeccably. Once Cheonju confirmed that, she announced her retirement.
“Those cheeky brats up to their nonsense again…”
“It’s not nonsense.”
“……”
“You’re precious to me, Cheonju.”
“Is that why you came at a time like this? Worrying about an old person’s life is the world’s most pointless thing for a young one to do.”
“Hmm… Maybe so.”
Seolhong flopped onto Cheonju’s bed. Her neatly arranged clothes splayed out.
“…You really take after Lady Yu-hwa.”
“Everyone says that. Do I look that much like her?”
After returning from the Ghost Realm, Seolhong had reverted to her original form. But the small stature she’d had back then seemed like a mirage; over the past few years, her body had grown.
Now, two out of ten might even believe she was Yu-hwa reincarnated.
“Yes, beauty runs in the family.”
“…Heard about the next trial?”
“You mean the Injung-ro.”
Cheonju lay down beside Seolhong.
The two gazed at the ceiling as they talked.
“I heard. It’s a brutal one.”
“They say sorcery will steal our sight, hearing, even smell. We have to rely on a single rope and cross through the empire’s heart to the Dragon Palace.”
“Whoever came up with it must be a real nasty piece of work.”
“Haha… Couldn’t agree more.”
“…It must weigh on you heavily.”
“It’d be a lie to say it doesn’t. After all…”
Seolhong trailed off.
“We could die.”
The possibility of death.
Traversing through crowds on a single rope without guards was an immense burden for the dragon candidates.
“Will you try to stop me?”
“Why would I?”
“It’s dangerous. You’ve always tried to stop me from dangerous things.”
“That… That bastard ruined everything. He smashed my rigid way of thinking… Now I believe that to achieve great things, you have to take some risks.”
“That bastard… that bastard…”
“……That damned vanishing scum.”
A smirk.
Cheonju was probably the only one Seolhong could discuss such a sensitive topic so openly with.
“To become a dragon, you must walk this path.”
“Some must hate me, right?”
“A few in the world, sure.”
“Even they’ll be waiting for Injung-ro to begin.”
“They wouldn’t go so far as to stab you in the gut on the street… Oh dear, was that too crude?”
“…A bit much.”
“Anyway, the Seolhong I know is compassionate, so nothing major will happen.”
Just being with Cheonju brought great comfort.
“Cheonju, can I become a dragon?”
“If you truly wish it. But Lady Seolhong…”
“Yeah, I’ve lost confidence.”
“…That’s serious. All because of that loathsome bastard.”
Seolhong smiled brightly.
“He made me think I accomplished everything on my own and got me to rely on him easily. Then he just vanished.”
“Lady Seolhong…”
“It’s like the great tree that cast its shade just disappeared.”
Seolhong hesitated before continuing.
“I know I’m full of gaps, and I didn’t reach this position purely on my own strength. Someone like me being worthy of a dragon…”
“Lady Seolhong, the one born a dragon is still rotting underground.”
“…Huh?”
“Hwagmu. The one with scales and breathes fire.”
Seolhong let out a hollow laugh at Cheonju’s words.
“To become a dragon as a human, you must clash with other humans. And only those tempered through such clashes…”
Cheonju’s aged hand brushed Seolhong’s hair.
“…can challenge for the dragon’s throne.”
“……”
“That man, too, was just someone who clashed with you, daughter of dragons. Please…”
A fragment of a worn smile.
“Become a dragon.”
* * *
The afternoon before Injung-ro.
By this time tomorrow, the ten dragon candidates would be walking their paths separately.
With the dragon contest underway, much scheming happened behind the scenes. Especially since the candidates were staking everything, the chance of interference was high.
Safeguards had been put in place.
The ten candidates swore not to harm each other, enforced by sorcery.
Violators would lose their status regardless of the outcome, and their family’s history would burn.
Those on the Injung-ro would be judged only by the masses. If anyone too strong approached the path, recorders would block them.
In other words, only the powerless could get close to the walking candidates.
Of course, no holding hands or guiding was allowed.
All of it was to cross the human river, washing away past sins.
Let those with grudges come close. We’ll embrace it all. Fail to overcome, and be swept away.
This was why Injung-ro was chosen as the final trial.
“Then, please confirm your assigned Injung-ro paths.”
The dragon candidates checked the palm-sized papers mapping their routes.
At that moment, Seolhong’s expression was particularly grim.
Everything was set.
“Then, the final trial of the dragon contest, Injung-ro, will begin tomorrow at the designated spots. Good luck.”
The candidates dispersed.
Chattering among themselves.
“…Seolhong.”
Chiwu approached Seolhong, who lingered alone for some reason.
“Checked your path?”
Nod.
“Can I see?”
Nod.
Chiwu took Seolhong’s paper, checked the route, and squeezed her eyes shut just like Seolhong.
“No way… This… This is… It’s wrong.”
“Ehehe… Yeah, that’s how it turned out.”
“I’ll fix it. This… goes through the slums.”
The slums.
Where Yushin’s light gathered and raised the children, yet still the bottom rung of life.
No matter Yushin’s great influence there, he couldn’t control all shadows.
Thus, a place rife with problems and dangers. Seolhong’s path was the only one cutting through the slums.
“Seolhong, there’s still time…”
Seolhong grabbed Chiwu’s hand.
“Chiwu, don’t.”
“Why? It’s unfair! The others get nice main streets! Why do you have to wade through filth?”
“It’s not unfair. They… didn’t choose to be born there either.”
“That…”
She was right.
The slum dwellers hadn’t chosen to be born there.
You couldn’t cry unfair to them. That would be wrong.
“Besides, sections 1 and 3 are straight shots. It’s fine. I can do it.”
“Seolhong…”
A grin.
“I’ll make it, no matter what.”
Tomorrow, through the slums.
Without protection or arms. Through the capital Hongryeon’s most dangerous zone.
You couldn’t choose your trial.
Just as slum life offered no choices, nor did walking that path.
One day would be given.
You could forfeit.
Decide now; only the silent walkers would claim it.
Be it shame or glory.
That night, three gathered: Seolhong, Taeryul, and Shinyo. Closest to dragonhood.
“Tomorrow, it wouldn’t be odd if one of us was missing.”
“Oppa, why say something so grim?”
“A jest.”
“Guess your retainers don’t teach you jokes…”
“…I’ll learn if needed.”
“Never mind. Anyway… you saw the Injung-ro paths?”
“I did.”
From brief reports, Taeryul got a straight path. Shinyo too.
No, any path was better than Seolhong’s. She drew the worst; others at least the lesser evil.
“Oppa and Seolhong… you both look so serious…”
That was when it happened.
Taeryul made an unexpected proposal.
“Seolhong, want to swap paths?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you’d swap paths with me.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Dead serious.”
Why?
Any hidden motives?
Seolhong pondered Taeryul’s intent briefly, then shook her head.
He wasn’t that kind of person. Always upright, giving his all. No petty tricks; pure goodwill.
Perhaps the most dragon-like indeed.
“It’s fine.”
“Hmm… Why? Considering how you helped me, this is the least…”
“Walking the assigned path is what matters. Avoiding it defeats the purpose.”
Even the stoic Shinyo smiled at the answer.
“Well said.”
Nod.
Taeryul agreed with Seolhong.
“Perhaps the assigned path doesn’t matter at all. What counts is the grudges.”
How many grudges accumulated in life? Could you break that chain of hatred on Injung-ro? If not, the unchangeable past would come with regrets.
“It’d be a lie to say I’m not scared. Especially me; I’ve committed many sins.”
“Oppa always did his best. I know that.”
“Even best efforts leave regrets if results sour.”
Taeryul gazed into the distance.
“Maybe tomorrow, the one missing from this spot will be me.”
Death was possible.
No, many candidates would die.
“Order your retainers to at least preserve your life…”
Taeryul shook his head.
“I’ll stake everything. It’s the final trial. I want to see just how big a vessel I truly am.”
That was Taeryul.
“Step by step, pressing my all into the human river, I’ll become a dragon against the current. Shinyo, what about you?”
“…Same here.”
Upright souls.
Wise ones.
And the compassionate, wandering one.
Injung-ro day.
The ten candidates had dwindled to eight.
Two forfeited overnight.
They were candidates who’d piled grudges sky-high with ruthless acts during the contest.
Undoubtedly, they’d die soon after starting. Perhaps a wise choice.
The recorder said.
“Dragon candidates, take a good look. It might be your last glimpse of the world.”
“…Scaring us?”
“For your sake. Now, blindfolds on. Only skin sensations remain; sight, hearing, smell taken. Ah, for wise choices, updates on other candidates’ statuses will be relayed.”
If one forfeits, others might follow like dominoes. Maybe that was the intent.
“A push on the back signals to walk.”
“…Yes.”
“Finally… Never let go of the rope. No matter what! Lose it, and you might not reach Dragon Palace in time.”
Blindfold over eyes.
“Waaaaah…”
“Lady Seolhong! Over here…”
Screeech…
In that instant, the world went dark, leaving Seolhong alone.
Her only reliance: the rope pulling her forward.
Thud.
A hand pressed her back.
Injung-ro had begun.